July Article for Crafty people Monthly.

 Hi guys..

Here is the article I have written for the

Crafty Peoples online magazine.

Do pop over and see what the rest of the team has been up to..

Hello everyone and once again welcome to my little corner.

The theme for this month is: "Flowers"..

Most of us love using flowers on our crating projects. They come in all shapes and sizes. In all colours and materials. They can be shop bought or made by your self. By hand or by die. But for my card I decided to try something a little bit different.

As flowers are everywhere in crafting, I decided to try out something new for me. REAL flowers. I've never pressed flowers before, ok maybe as a kid, but not as a crafter. Also, I've never made a creation with real flowers before.

To try this out, I simply went out in the garden and picked what I could find. I picked the little small ones, thinking they would be best for cards.

I know you can buy and make specially designes flower presses, but as this was simply just something to try for fun, I went to my library and got the biggest book I own. I opened the book, added a few sheets of kithen roll, then my flowers, and then more kitchen roll. Closed the book and left it there. My flowers have now been in my book for about 2 weeks.

This is one of my favorite books in my collection, also one of my biggest lol

This is the flowers after pressing.

Is this the correct way to press flowers?? Honestly, I dont know, nor do I mind. Why?? Because I simply just wanted to try it out and have a bit of fun.

The finished card. I kept it very simple, just so the flowers really stand out.

My only concern about using real flowers.. Are they going to withstand the posting??? I guess I will have to send my card to a friend to find out...

And having fun, relaxing and creating is what crafting is all about for me. I know of many people that find crafting helps them with their poor health.

Here is what some of my Facebook friends had to say when I asked the following Question: 
HOW DOES CRAFTING HELP YOU WITH YOUR HEALTH??

*Gillian Lowry: Hi, I have Fibromyalgia and Osteo Arthritis which is constant pain but crafting takes me to another world it gives me something to focus on xxxxx

*Cathy Hennessy Roberts: I had a stroke 3 yrs ago and scrap booking has helped me feel normal. I have limited use of my left arm but persevere at making LO's and cards. I still have my mind and I am sometimes in awe of my creativity.

*CardMonkey Jarvis: Due to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) -- repeated head injuries over my lifetime -- my memory is fading faster than I'd like, and quicker than normal. I scrapbook to preserve the memories; I make cards to feel better about my situation, and to give to others to remind them that they're cared about. And I blog about it so I have a way of keeping a timeline of life. When I went out of work with a foot injury last year, I blogged about that and got some good tips from fellow crafters about treating it ...and crafting helped keep me somewhat sane when I couldn't walk. http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com

*Margaret Metcalfe Beard: I have heart/hearing/chronic back pain probs but give me some card, glue and papers and I forget it all!! Same with crochet! Bet you can't find a crafter in bad health who doesn't feel exactly the same!! lol XXX

*Janis Johnston Farabee: For me its CRPS in my leg & serious back issues....some days I can hardly walk but once I get to my crafting area and start working on a project I'm in another world I forget about the pain. My hubby made me a crafting table so I can stand and work as sitting is difficult for me as well. Like another lady said, it also helps to keep the memory from fading as fast....due to all the meds I take some days my thought process is very slow. I make something nearly everyday and I'm so grateful to be able to have supplies and do what I do. With out it I'm sure I would be in a wheel chair.http://stampinjani.blogspot.com/

So as you can see, crafting helps in many different ways. We all craft for different resons and we all gain different things from it.

One crafter that constantly have to take her health into concideration, is my FB pal Gwyneth George.

Here is what Gwyneth has to say:

 Unfortunately I have more than one disabling condition.  The first is an “invisible” condition - M.E.  The second is a very visible condition – Lymphoedema.

The Lymphoedema is in a badly damaged lower right leg which developed some eighteen years ago following a very bad infection in the leg that caused it to swell, with bursting blister areas. This is my “wonky leg” as it’s known to my youngest nephews.  My damaged leg has a knock-on effect on the rest on my body, with pain in hips, muscles and poor circulation.

I’ve suffered from M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Encephalopathy), sometimes known as C.F.S. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) or P.F.S. (Postviral Fatigue Syndrome, though some think it should be Persistent-viral Fatigue Syndrome) since in my teens.

To decribe it short, it about chronic fatigue. Ranging from always being tired to total exhaustion from doing not much at all. It comes with headaches and brain fog and can make thinking and figuring things out, very difficult.

This all means that some days I wouldn’t attempt to write a piece such as this, because my brain simply wouldn’t be able to concentrate, and writing up things for my blog is impossible.  Other days my brain may work just fine, but my hands, or arms, or any other, or all, of my body can be in sharp pain that’s worse than the constant, low grade, aching I have all the time. There can be days I think – everything’s working today – but I run out of steam in an hour and take a day or more to get the strength to pick up crafting again, and other days I have a slow start to the day but by doing everything slowly I manage to do a lot of crafting without exacerbating any of my conditions worse than they are already.

As far as my crafting is concerned - I think I've been around crafting all of my life.  Family members just made things or adapted things if they could, rather than going out and buying. I know that I knitted a scarf  and leg warmers when in school. A cable jumper, a fancy knit, chunky long-line cardigan, a variety of things came next. Then there was sewing a few skirts, a gypsy top some patchwork items - a quilt for a baby, a cushion cover, a little bag.

Card making soon crept up on me. I started because I wanted Welsh Christmas and Birthday cards, but the ones available in local shops were usually much more expensive than the equivalent English cards without there being as much choice. I started by buying the English ones and adding a Welsh greeting in a basic calligraphy script.  This developed to adding an insert over the greeting that was there, and recycling old cards.  Then came my first computer and the ability to print out the clipart to make my own cards pictures up.

At some point I realised that there were toppers and backing papers and other things available in the shops specifically to be used to make cards, and that the only stamps were not just greetings stamps.  And of course items to craft became digital – such as digi-stamps or sheets to download and print out to craft with, as well as the putting together of items digitally as well.

After my health deteriorated to the point that I had to retire I could pick up my crafts any time I felt like it, choosing something to do according to how my body is behaving on any particular day, and on some days just having my laptop open in front of me and slowly clicking round Internet absorbing inspiration from other people’s work because I’m not able to craft myself on that day. 

I try to craft when I’m able, as it means I feel productive, but also because crafting when I’m able means that I’ve usually got something suitable already made whenever something comes around that needs a card or a simple gift, and then I don’t have to stress about having to do something by a certain date when my body isn’t being co-operative.

So, one question I was asked to answer is “How does your disability affect your crafting”.  Because of the differing and fluctuating nature of my disabilities I think my crafting has to be flexible or adaptable.

 I can no longer manage to knit, it’s just too painful, so instead I use a knitting board or a loom. There are times when holding  jewellery making tools can be too tricky, well instead I use elastic and big beads, and save the smaller pieces for better days.

If my hands and lower arms are relatively pain free but perhaps my brain isn’t up to putting designs together, I’ll sit in bed with a bundle of printed out toppers and decoupage, and have a cutting out session.  I print out a variety of stuff in batches, some just straight edged pyramage designs, some more intricate decoupage – so it depends how my hands are how more cutting I’ll do, and if there’s a day when I feel like constructing, but don’t feel able to cut a lot then I’ve got stuff ready to go.

 So you see, its all about adapting to what my body allows me.

 I don’t suppose what, and how I craft, is hugely different to anybody else.  It’s just that I do most (though not all) of my crafting in bed, rather than at a table.  I’ve got a small, narrow, corner of my bedroom for craft storage, and just take what I need for any particular crafting session to bed with me.

When I want to craft, I simply gather everything I need for the project I want to do, get comfy in bed, meaning a lot of cusions for support, and my trusty padded lap tray.

I have my craft tote with my tools, and diffent kinds of easy storage so everthing is kept safe right next to me on the bed.

So as you can see, its really all about making the most of what I can manage on a given day.

Gwyneth George
– see more of my varied craft work at http://blog.maesmieri.org.uk/  


Thank you very much Gwyneth. Its been a pleasure to hear your story xx


Lastly for this month, I want to share a LayOut (LO) I've made with flowers in mind. I dont scrapbook often enough, simply as I dont have enough hours in the day

This scrappage I made about a year ago. It came about simply because I had those yellow plastic flowers I wanted to do something with.I layered them up with paper flowers just to add more interest to each flower.

This large flower, is layered using fabric flowers as well as paper ones, and still finished off with a plastic flower. I love all the different textures.

And that is it from me. If you wish to se more of my work, do pop over and visit my blog: http://www.marleens-crafty-space.blogspot.ie/ or my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Design-by-Marleen-Michaelis-Gallagher/248257631890180

Happy Crafting

Marleen xxx

Crafty People Monthly. Issue 2 - June 2013

Hi everyone

Below is the article I have written for the
Crafty People Monthly

This month our theme is "Love of paper".. 

 A fitting title for me..

I have a thing about patterned paper.. I see a pad, I just have to have it.. If I REALLY like it, I have been known to buy 2 of the same..

Why?? because I simply love what I can create with paper. I make cards as well as scrappages and books. Lately my fellow writer, Tina Teasdale, has inspired me to have a go at altered art, and has been teaching me how to create flowers from the smallest scraps.

I have been crafting ever since my eldest baby was born, so we are coming close to 10 years now. I have gone from a little box of bits and pieces to having my own craftroom. I have gone from making very simple cards, to now trying out more and more exciting tecniques. And with that my stach grows. But nothing has grown as much as my paper stach.

I have several folders bursting full of 12x12 papers, all ready for when I get in the scrapping mood. Several A4 folders full of pads & printed designs, 8x8 pads galore and dont forget my shelf bursting full of my 6x6 pads..

So why do us crafters need that many papers?? In theory, 1 pad of paper at the time should be enough, shouldnt it??? Did I hear you all scream NOOOOOO??? lol

Personally I think it has something to do with the creative mind. I know, for myself, I get inspired to do a project when I see a paper pack I like. Many of us start out a card or a scrappage by picking our papers. so if we only had 1 pad, our creativity would dry out. I do find myself returning to a pad at a later date, so nothing ever goes to waste, but in all honesty (and I will deny ever having said this lol) I do personally have enough paper to last me a life time lol..

I asked on my FB page "why do you love paper crafting?" Here is what some of my crafting buddies had to say:

Sandy Hughes Hubbard: I love it because it is my therapy. It is a happy place I can go, leave the outside world outside. Forget about everything that is going on in life. It is just me and my memories :o) www.asmylittleworldturns.blogspot.com

Fran Hancock: I love Paper Crafting because it helps me relax from the stresses of the day, and I love being able to give family handmade cards, I haven't bought a shop card for years .  http://craftyfran.blogspot.co.uk/

Sall Baker: You mean you need to ask lol? I love the freedom to express myself, the ability to create something original, unusual and different, I love giving something that has been made with love and soul and means something.

Paper Crafting: 

Well I guess really it is'nt just about our love for paper, is it? Its what we can make with paper, its the quality time we get out of playing with paper. The satisfation we get out of making and giving something we made simply with paper.

Next month I will explore that side a bit more. I will have an interwiev with a good crafting buddy of mine, Gwyneth, who will tell us about what Crafting with poor health means for her.

Thanks for stopping by & for any comments left behind

Crafty People Monthly. Issue 1 - May 2013

Hi Everyone.

Here is my very first article for

Crafty Peoples Monthly.

My name is Marleen. I come from Denmark but after meeting my husband, Kevin, I moved to Ireland. We have 3 kids. Emma 9, Michael 7 and Abbie 2 and live in the very rural, but stunningly beautiful Donegal, in Ireland.

I make cards as well as scrapbooking. I started making cards 9 years ago after Emma was born. I needed something to remind me that I was more than a mum and a house wife. Then after Michael was born, and had a bout of severe illness, I decided to start scrapbooking as well. Since then it has gone from a “me-time”, to a hobby, to an addiction and now a “job”.

I am now so lucky to sit on several design teams. I love each and everyone of them, past and present, as it gives me the chance to try new things and push my own knowledge to new hights. I also do craft demonstrations in my local craft shop from time to time. We live very rural as I mentioned, and we have very few craft shops around here. When our usual demonstator could no longer make it, the owners of the shop asked me, if I fancied having a go. Ive now been demonstration for more then a year, and I love it. I would love to do it full time one day. I will share more on both demoing and design teams in a later isssue of our newsletter.

For my corner of the newsletter, I plan to bring you new ideas each month. I’m a very classic girl and tend to stick to what I know, but I will try and dig up something different each month. I will try some of the tecniques out there that I still haven’t had a go at but also show you some inspiration with the styles I’m more confident in. Each month I will try to show you both cardmaking and scrapbooking.

And with that said, let me show you some of my crafty projects. The theme for this month is Butterflies.

Here is what I’ve made for this month, using the theme Butterflies.

Meet me!!

This scrappage I made more for fun then anything. Our editor had mentioned for us to show a project that showed our style, to give you, the reader, an idea of who we are. So I decided to scrap.. ME!! what better way to show you who I am.

Gems... This girl do not know how to craft without her gems..

For this project i simply rumaged around my stash till I found what i wanted. I cant add name to anything as its all bit and pieces from here and there.

I added white acrylic paint to the edges of my picture to liven up the dark background.
The chipboard letters have been given a coat of glossy accent to liven them up a bit.

I used one some of my favorite tecniques on this page. I love distressing/roughing up the edged of my project, yet im all about clean lines. Piercing the paper is a trend I love at the moment as well. A very easy way to create something that stand out from the project.

This card, is totally inspired by my scrappage. The papers came from a well used pad with no front cover, but are from the same pad as the scrappage.
I decided that the butterfly should take center stage here, and really just went with that. The patteren of the background paper really demands that the rest of the layout is kept simple, and i think i have managed to achive that.

And that is me for this time. I hope you like what I’ve made.

Thank you fro stopping by & for any comments left behind.